Filling-exhaustion-indicating mechanism for looms.



PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908.

' ALLEN.

FILLING EXHAUSTION INDIGATING MECHANISM FOR LO'OMS.

APPLIGATION FILED OOTJE), 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1 1\T0. 890,749 PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908:

F ALLEN.

I FILLING BXHAU$TION INDIGATING MECHANISM FOR IQOOMS.

APPLICATION FILED 0013.19.1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FRANKLIN. ALLEN, F WALTHAM, HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS,

1 anism for Looms, of which the following de- -the construction andoperation therein is very "ieeler device comprehends two members one Aof which mpinges against and the other penetrates the fiihng mass in therunning shuttle,

' a suitable instrumentality.

msrrirn sTATEs PATENT oiurron.

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO DRAPER COMPANY, OF

A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

v No. 890,749;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Mania June 16,1908.

Application filed October 19, 1907. Serial No. 398,236. Y

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN ALLEN, a citizen of the United States, andresident of l/Valtham, county of Middlesex, State of Ivlassachusctts,have invented an Im rovement in Filling-Exhaustion-Indicatinglechscription, in connection'with the accompanying drawing, is aspecification, like letters on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production'oi novelfilling-exhaustion indicating mechanism for looms whereby the detectionof substantial exhaustion of filling in the running shuttle is madeeffective to cause a change in the operation of the loom, such forinstance as its stoppage automatically or the automatic replenishment oftherunning filling. i

The operation of the mechanism embodied in my present invention is basedupon the relative penetrability of the' filling mass and the material ofwhich the filling carrier or bobbin is composed and upon which thefilling is wound, and while broadly this principlc is found in UnitedStates Patent N 0. 823123 granted May 22, 1906 to C. F. Roper,

different from the invention forming the sub ject matter of'thisapplication. Herein the said members moving unison until sub stantialfilling exhaustion is reached. Therenpon the penetrating member ismoved, by engagement with the filling-carrier, relatively to theimpinging; member, such initial relative movement releasing the members,which up to that time have been locked together. When unlocked asecondary or ef-- festive relative movement is imparted to thepenetrating member, causing the desired change in the operation of theloom through Until the secondary 1novement'.is effected the feeler de-'vice is dead or inactive with respect to the instrumentality whichcausesthe change in the operation of the loom, an actuator re maininginoperative throughout the time the 'ieeler device is dead and beingoperatively positioned and rendered active only when the eli'ectivemovement of-the members of the present invention is Wholly differentfrom the a paratus disclosed in the Roper patent a ore'said, wherein anactuator 18 inoperatively positioned on each detecting pick untilthe-predetermined fillin cxhaustionis reached, such positioning of t eactuator being efiected by a relative movement of the feeler memberswhile sufiicient filling is present in the shuttle.

The various novel features of my inven-- tion will be fully described inthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in t efollowingclaims.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, centrally broken out, of a suiiicientportion of a loom, with one embodiment of my presentinvention appliedthereto; top plan view of the feeler device in normal condition, with afilling-carrier and filling Fig. 2 is an enlarged mass thereon, thefilling being shown as reduced to such an extentthat the feeler deviceis just about to be operated to cause a change in the operation of theloom; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the feeler device, view-- ing itfrom the left hand side of the loom, the parts being in the conditionshown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showingthe fe eler members after they have been moved relatively to operativelyposition the actuator; sectional detail on the line 55, Fig. 4, Fig. 6is an enlarged detail on the line 6*6, Fig. 1, looking toward the right,and Fig. 7 is a detail of the front end of the latch-carrier and thefeeler-controlled lifter to cooperate therewith.

The breast-beam A, lay'A, filling-feeder F of the replenishing mechanismto hold the filling-carriers or bobbins b on which the mass of fillingis wound, the transfe'rrer f and the controlling rock-shaft d are andmay be of well known construction in automatic filling-replenishinglooms, the shipper N and its notched holding-plate N, the. knock- Fig;5' is a longitudinal of? lever n, n and the shuttle S, Fig. 1,havi'ecler device occurs. In this respect Inyl mounted on alatch-carrier fulcrumcd on a.

slide 0 adjacent the guide for the slide m of the usual fork m theweft-hammer W acting to move the slide outward upon filling failure, tothereby operate the lmockoff lever n n and release the shipper.

The latch-carrierhas a foot 0, to be referred to hereinafter, and aspring 8 Fig. 6, normally acts to elevate the latch c above the path ofa shoulder w on the weft-hammer, the structure described beingsubstantially as shown in the Marcoux patent, but 0 erating in aslightly different manner. hat

3 is,- in the patent a device is intermittingly movedbeneath andawayf'rom the foot 0 until redetermined filling exhaustion is reacheand, at such timesaid device remains beneath the foot when theweft-hammer W moves forward to, effect engagement between the shoulder wand the latch 0*, but herein the foot 0 remains down and the latch .uuntil filling replenishment is called for, an then the foot is lifted,as will be described, to lower the latch into operative position.

When

so lowered the shoulder to? engages the latch 0 and the slide a is movedoutward,

shank between the rocking an upturned arm (1 fast on the rockshaft d",turning the latter and effecting the operation of the replenishingmechanism in well known manner.

Upon the outer end of the plate N I secure a stand 5 having bearings 6,7 to receive and slidably su port a carriage 8 having a cylin-' body 13and a lateral, broad head 14,which' presents a face 15 tointermittingglenter the shuttle and impinge upon the ing mass therein. p

The body 13 is provided with longitudinal slots 16, see Fig. 5 throughwhich are extended screws 17 and 18, into the part 12 of the carriage,the screw 18 clamping the feeler member 13 to the carriage while.longitudinal movement of said member isp'ermissible, a stop-screw l9 andchecknut 19 helping to maintain the adjustment and also to effect a fineadjustment when the clamping screw 18 is slightly loosened.

i. The screw 17 is made'long enough to extend-through and form a fulcrumfor an actuator, shown as an arm 20, mounted to swing laterally abovethe feeler member13, said actuator being bent upward as-shown in The endof the actuator adjacent its fulcrum is widened laterally and providedwith aslot21, to receive a leg 22 extended upward from the penetratingmember 23 of the feeler device, shown as an elongated and flat metal barhaving at its rear end a pron 24.

The penetrating member is s lidably supported on the part 12 of thecarriage, a ainst the adjacent upright and longitudina edge of the body13 of the'impinging member, and is held against it by means of a latch25 fulcrumed at 26 on the part 12 of the carria e, andacted upon by asuitable spring 27, t e s ring at all times acting to press the toe of t1e latch against the side of the penetrating member 23. Said member hason its outer side a cam portion 28, and slight notches 29 and 30 areformed in its edge at the opposite ends of the cam surface 28.

Referring to Fig. 2, the normal relative po- .sitionv of the impingingand penetrating members of the feeler device is shown, the toe at suchtime entering the notch 29, and holding the penetrating member from anymovement relative to the impinging member, and at such time the prong 24extends slightly beyond the contact face 15 of the impinging member. Onevery alternate ick, when the shuttle is in the sl1uttle-b0x Fig. 1, thefeeler members enter the shuttle through the a ertures 3 and 4, Fig. 1,and cooperate with t e mass of filling on the filling-carrier or bobbinb, and the face 15 of. the im inging member impin es upon the filling, wile the iplrlong 24 slight y penetrates or sinks in to the ing, and asthe lay com letes its forward movement, the pressure of the filling uponthe impinging member moves it forward against the action of the spring10, and the penetrating member 23 is moved forward in unison, as thesoftness of the filling penetrated by the prjong 24 is insufficient todis- "engage or release the latch 25. As the filling is woven off, thediameter of'the mass of filling gradually decreases. and the impingingand enetratin members gradually a roach the barre l of thefilling-carrier or befiin. So long as there is a sufficient thickness offilling to act upon the impinging member of the feeler device, andprevent the prong of the penetrating member from contacting with thewood of the filling-carrier there will be no change in the relativepositionof the two members of the feeler device, and they will remainlocked together by the latch 25.

When, however, the thickness of the remain- ,1

ing filling mass is so slight that the prong 24 engages the carrier 1)before the face 15 mm pinges on the filling, then the penetratm member23 will have imparted to it an initiad forwardmovement relative to theimpinging member sufficient to disengage the latch from thenotch; 29.The members of the feeler device are. now unlocked, and the,

spring 27 actsthrough the latch to press its toe against the-cam surface28, thereby e1- seams,

position shown in Fig. 4. This secondary movement acts through the lug22, which is eccentric to the studlrf of the actuator 20, to swing theactuator into operative position, as shown in Fig. 4. When the secondarymovement of the penetratingmember is c ompleted, the latch toe entersjthe notch 30, and serves to hold the penetrating member from furthervforward movement relative to the impinging member. IA link31islconnected atitsouterend with the upturned-free end of the actuator20 and atits inner end has adjust ably connected with it-loy a clampscrew 32, 1, atip-piece 33, the tree end of right. guides 35, see Figs.1 and 6, adjacent the foot 0 of the latch-carrier. The upper 'edge ofthe tip 33 is beveled at 34, see Fig. 7,

to pass under and cooperate with the corres ondin beveled under face 0of the foot 0. Vl hen t e actuator20 is operatively ositioned, as hasbeen described, the lin -moved in the direction of the arrow 50, Figs.

1 and 7, the incline or cam 34 passing under the foot of, and 'lfitingit to rock the latchcarrier. 0 into the position shown in Fig. 6.Thereby, the latch 0 is positioned in the path of the shoulder 'w on theweft hammer, and the forward'movement of the latter acts to effect achange or replenishment of filling I by cooperation of the sllde c withthe arm d From the foregoing it will be obvious that so long as .thereis suificient filling present in theshuttle to permit the penetratingmemher to penetrate the filling mass without engaging thefilling-carrier, there will be no relative movement between the twomembers of the fecler device, and saidmembers .Will move back and forthin unison, but as soon as the filling issutficiently exhausted to permitthe engagement of the penetrating member with the filling-carrier, theinitial relative movement of the feeler members will be effected tounlock them, and the amplified andsecondary relative movement iseffected automatically to 'operatively osition the actuator and effect achange in t 1e operation of the loom, such change being herein shown asa replenishment of filling.

To reset the feeler mechanism after fillingreplenishment I have providedthe side of the latch-carrier c with an upright, beveled or cam face cfiwhich wipes across the end of the tip 33 of the link as the slide 0 ismoved forward, and pushes the tip and link 31 outward oppositely to thearrow 50, to swing back the actuator 20 from the position shown in Fig.4 to that shownin Figs.-1 and 2, the toeof the latch .25 being throwninto engage ment with the notch 29 by the action of the spring 27, sothat the parts are thus reset automatically, and without any attentionon the partof the loom-attendant.

The structure is sim le and direct'actin I Patent is 1. Infilling-exhaustion indicating mechanism for looms, two adjacent andrelatively movable members one of which is adapted to enetrate and theother to im in e a ainst p 2': b l

the filling mass in the shuttle until substantial exhaustion-of thefilling causes the penetrating member to engage the carrier for thefilling and be moved relatively to the impinging member, a device .toconnect said members to move in unison until substantial fillingexhaustion, and means operated by or through relativemovement of saidmembers to control the operation of the loom.

2. In filling-exhaustion indicating mechanism for looms, a member toimpinge intermittingly upon the filling mass in the shuttle, an adjacentmember to penetrate the filling mass and move in unison with theimpinging member until substantial exhaustion of the filling, a latch toconnect said members for unison movement, means to enga e and effect aninitial relative movement oi the penetrating member when substantialfilling ex-' haustion occurs, to release the latch, means acting throughthe'latter when released to amplify such relative movement of the impining and penetrating members, and fillingrepl enishing mechanismoperated, by or through such amplified movement.

3. A controlling mechanism for looms, havmg two relatively movablemembers one being ada ted to intermittingly im iinge against anc theother. to penetrate the illing mass in the shuttle, to eli'ect unisonmovement of the members until substantial filling exhaustion, meansother than the filling to thereupon effect a differential movement ofsaid members, and means operated by such differential movement to causethe actuation of the controlling mechanism.

4. In a loom, a shuttle with a carrier having a mass of filling woundthereon, fillingreplcnishing mechanism, and means to control the time ofits operation, including two adjacent and yieldinglyanouirted,relatively movable members one of which is adapted to penetrate and theother to impinge against the filling 'mass, a device to connect saidmembers to move in unison until substantial filling exhaustion permitsthe penetratmg member to engage the carrier, such engagementdiscomiecting the members, and means to thereupon effect an amplifieddifferential movement of said members to cause the operation of thecontrolling means.

5. In a loom, a shuttle witha carrier having a mass of fillingwoundthereon, fillingreplenishing mechanism, and means to control the time ofits operation, including two adjacent and yieldingly-mounted, relativelymovable members one of Which is adapted to penetrate and the other toimpinge against the filling mass, a spring-latch normally connectingsaid members to move in unison until upon substantial filling exhaustionthe penetrating member engages. the' carrier, thereby releasing thelatch, and a cam cooperating with the released latch to effect anamplified differential movement of said members, to cause the operationof the controlling ing a mass of filling wound thereon, filling;

replenishing mechanism, a feeler device comprising a member to impingeand an adjacent member to enetrate the filling mass until substantial'lling exhaustion, a lock to cause unison movement of. the members untilsuch filling exhaustion permits the penetrating member to engage thecarrier and unlock said 'members, means to automatically effectdifferential movement of the members when unlocked, and connectionsbetween the members and the replenishing mechanism to cause the oeration of the latter when their differentia movement is effected.

7. The combination, with filling-replenishing mechanism, of a feelerdevice comprising a yieldingly mounted member to intermit tingly impingeagainst the filling mass in the shuttle, a member carried by and movablerelatively to the impinging member and adapted to penetrate the fillingmass, said penetrating member having a cam thereon and anadjacent notch,a spring-actuated latch carried by the impinging member to enter thenotch and prevent relative movement of the penetrating member untilsubstantial exhaustion of the filling permits said member to engage thefilling-carrier and be moved to remove the latch from the notch, saidlatch. thereupon acting upon the cam and retracting the penetratingmember, and a swinging actuaton'operatively connected with said'memberand with the replenishing mechanism to effect its operation when theactuator is swung by retraction of the penetrating member.

8. In a loom, a shuttle provided with a car- 'rier having a mass offilling wound thereon, a

feeler device having two relatively movable members adapted respectivelyto impinge against and penetrate the filling mass and be moved'in unisonthereby until substantial filling exhaustion, the -.penetrating memberthereupon engagin the filling-carrier; and being moved initially therebyrelatively to the impin ing member, means to automatically comp ete suchrelative movement, and means to change the o eration of the loom,actuated by the comp eted relative movement of the feeler members.

9. I a loom, a shuttle provided with a carrier aving a mass of fillingwound thereon, means to. change the operation of the loom, and atwo-part device cooperatingwith the filling as a unit until substantialexhaustion of the filling combined with means whereby a relativemovement of the parts of said device is effected by or through therelative density of the carrier and the filling, thereon, such relativemovement of the parts causing the operation of said means.

- 10. In' a loom, a shuttle provided with a carrier having a mass offilling wound thereon, and means to automatically change the filling inthe shuttle, combined with a device comprising two membersintermittingly cooperatin with the filling and moving in unison untipredetermined filling exhaustion, one member of said device thereuponpenetrating the remaining filling and engaging the carrier, therebyeffecting the actuation of the filling-changing means by relative move'ment of the two members by or through the relative density of thecarrier and the filling remaining thereon.

11. In filling-exhaustion indicating mech-' anism for looms, incombination, a feeler device comprising a member to intermittinglyimpinge upon the filling mass in the shuttle,

a second member to penetrate, the filling mass, a locking device tonormally cause said members to move in unison, engagement of thefilling-carrier by the penetrating member unlocking said members andthen effecting differential'movement' of the feeler members her Whilesulficient filling remains to prevent engagement of the penetratingmember bythe carrier in the shuttle, substantial fillin exhaustionpermitting such engagement an effecting an initial change in therelative position of the feeler members, means to therein theirrelation, and filling-replenish ng .mechanisnrthe operation whereof iscaused by such secondary changel v v a f 13. In a loom, a-feeler deviceincludingfilling im inging and penetratin membersada te .to enter theshuttle an cooperate wit the filling therein, combined with a lockmovable in unison with the impinging nlemupon predeterminedfillingexhaustion first by the locking device, and filling-replenish- 'uponautomatically effect a secondary change to normally prevent relativemovement of said members, engagement of the penetrating member with thefilling-carrier when the filling has been exhausted to a predeterminedextent efiect-ing release of said member and permitting movement thereofrelative to the impinging member.

14:. A loom having, in combination, a member having an elongated face toimpinge on the filling in the shuttle, an adjacent member to penetratethe filling, a lock to cause said members to move in unison untilsubstantial. filling exhaustion permits the penetrating member to engagethe fillingcarrier and thereby unlock the members, and means toautomatically cause relative effective movement of the said members whenunlocked.

15. A loom having, in combination, fillingreplenishing mechanism, afeeler to effect the operation thereof when filling replenishment iscalled for, the feeler comprising two members rendered effective byrelative movement, a lock normally preventing such movement but whichreleases said members upon substantial filling exhaustion, and meansacting automatically upon such release 'to cause the effective relativemovement of the feeler members.

16. A loom having in combination, an im pingin member and a penetratingmember movable first in unison with said impinging member and thereafterrelatively thereto, both members intermittingly enterin the runningshuttle to cooperate with the ling therein, means to normally lock saidmembers together until the penetrating member contacts with thefilling-carrier u on substantial filling exhaustion, to initia ly efiectrelative movement of and unlock said members, and a device actingthrough the locking means to cause a secondary, eflectivc rela' FRANKLINALLEN.

Witnesses:

L. A. HARVEY,

E. A. WALKER.

